Bengals Statistics

Browns Statistics

CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1)

• Kickoff : 1 p.m. today, Paul Brown Stadium

• TV-Radio : CBS (Ch. 10); WBWR-FM (105.7)

•
Line: Bengals by 7

• Forecast : Sunny, 80 degrees

The setup

Neither team looked good in its opener. Browns rookie Brandon Weeden had four interceptions and
a QB rating of 5.1, and Cleveland gave up the winning touchdown to Philadelphia with 1:18 left. The
Bengals, meanwhile, were never in it vs. the Ravens and lost by 31 points, matching the most
lopsided season-opening loss in franchise history.

Key matchup

Browns RB Trent Richardson

vs. Bengals run defense

The rookie can dish out the punishment (ask Eagles safety Kurt Coleman), but Richardson rushed
for only 39 yards and averaged 2.1 per carry in the opener. He’ll be going against a defense that
was torched for 20 plays of 10 yards or more vs. Baltimore. An effective Richardson would help take
the pressure off Weeden.

Stats and stuff

The Browns will be without CB Joe Haden, serving the first of a four-game suspension for
violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing-drug policy. … Today’s game is a sellout; the Bengals
sold out only two of eight home games last season.

How it might play out

The Bengals swept the intrastate rivalry last season and have won 12 of the past 15 games. A
win would give Cincinnati a six-game lead (42-36), the largest advantage by either team in the
43-year history of the series. Given the state of the Browns’ offense, the advantage goes to the
Bengals.